Shpella e Sari Salltikut

Useful Information

Location:	Kruja. (41.51732441, 19.8003273)
Open:	All year daily during daylight. [2024]
Fee:	free, donations welcome. [2024]
Classification:	Cave Church Karst Spring
Light:	Incandescent
Dimension:
Guided tours:	self guided
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:
Address:	Shpella e Sari Salltikut, Tel: +355-.
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

1967	during the communist regime the cave church falls into disrepair.
1991	cave church renovated and reopened.

Description

Shpella e Sari Salltikut (Cave Temple of Sari Salltiku) is a tiny cave which was transformed into a small cave church. A staircase leads down to the cave, another staircase leads down into the cave. There is a small octagonal building with a cupola and a bronze statue of the saint. The famous spring is walled up and decorated with a ram’s head. It is located on the hillside above the town of Kruje and offers a great view across the coastal plain. The site is dedicated to the revered Sufi saint named Sari Salltik. This sacred tomb is a popular pilgrimage destination, drawing people seeking blessings, healing, and spiritual guidance. The peak of the pilgrimage season is between mid-August and mid-September. The church is thought to be the tomb of Sari Salltik. However, according to legend, his body was buried in seven coffins, in remote towns and villages within the lands of the Infidels. As a result tombs of him are found all over the Balkans and Turkey. This is one of those who claim to be his final burial place.

The work of Sari Salltik in Kruja was during the first half of the 14th century The cave church was one of the first churches in the area erected by Bektashi missionaries who came to this area decades before the Ottoman armies appeared. The church was named after Sari Sadik Babai. According to legend, the Dervishes fought the local practice to sacrifice girls in rituals. The cave was known for the nearby spring, which was famous for flowing all year without falling dry. Sari Salltik became famous for his continuous work to spread the faith. He was assisted by three Dervishes.

While there are many beliefs and legends, there is actually not much historical information about Sari Salltik. His date of birth is not known, and his place of birth is contested, probably Uzbekistan or Crimea. Even the date of his death is not known, either in 1297 or in 1298, and there are numerous tombs of him.